Join the Hilltopper Family

Can you see yourself making a positive impact at WKU? We offer an inviting and challenging work environment, responsive to the needs of a diverse and ambitious learning community. See our open faculty and staff positions. Employment Website.

College and Career Readiness (CCR) Certificate

Certificate Program

This certificate program is for graduate students who are interested in the college
and career readiness of P-12 students; with a specific focus on interacting and intervening
with this target population, as well as developing professional relationships with
school-related stakeholders. The College and Career Readiness (CCR) certificate is
created to support the career and college readiness needs of local, regional, and
national P-12 students. It is offered online through WKU’s Bowling Green campus; courses
are taught by CNS faculty with the integration of experts from local businesses and
schools. Students will have opportunities to participate in action research and service
learning consultation activities. This certificate program plays a leading role in
Kentucky’s economic and social development by preparing CCR graduates to prepare P-12
students to join a high quality educated workforce in an area of local, regional,
and national need. Additionally, it meets the needs of area schools by providing specific
training to the personnel being hired or asked to work with students in the areas
of college and career readiness. It also serves to help build and maintain networks
between districts and industry in Bowling Green.

This program is currently not eligible for the Kentucky P-12 Educator Tuition Discount. However, we are working on making that program eligible for the discount in the future.
In the meantime, you may qualify for the Educator Tuition Discount if you take these
courses as electives in a Rank 1 program for Secondary Education or School Counseling.
Additionally, full-time teachers who supervise student teachers or teaching interns
may qualify for the Tuition Waiver for Supervising Teachers.

Certificate Requirements/Curriculum

The 15 credit hour certificate program includes the following 5 required courses:

CNS 500 College and Career Readiness Foundations (3 credit hours) Overview of college and career readiness; roles and duties of college and career readiness
helpers within the school system; and legal, ethical, standards-related issues and
implications.

CNS 501 College and Career Consultation & Collaboration (3 credit hours)Consultation models, professional collaborations, and application of concepts and
skills with an emphasis on college and career readiness within school macro and micro
systems

CNS 502 College and Career Program Development & Evaluation (3 credit hours)Program development and evaluation, with emphasis on P-16 college and career development
and readiness

CNS 556 Developmental Career Counseling (3 credit hours)Integrates the career counseling process into the life span from early childhood through
older adulthood. Career development theories; career assessment instruments; educational
resources; placement; follow up and evaluation. Interrelationships among work, marital,
family, and other life roles including multicultural and gender issues.

CNS 503 Practicum in College and Career Readiness (3 credit hours) Supervised experiences in college and career readiness setting/s.
View the CCR Practicum page for the practicum manual and required forms.

Planned Program

This courses will tentatively be offered the following semesters. *They can all be taken in one year as listed below or CNS 556 and CNS 503 can be taken
during a second year.

Summer: CNS 500, CNS 556*Fall: CNS 501Spring: CNS 502, CNS 503*

Admission Criteria

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and meet minimum admission requirements to
the Graduate School. Apply to the CCR Certificate program directly through the Graduate School application. Admissions are on a rolling basis; students are accepted throughout the year into
the certificate program. Classes can begin any semester; they are not required to
be taken in sequence.